Manipulation of liquid crystal droplets by optoelectronic tweezers

•Optoelectronic tweezers (OET) by using the light-induced dielectrophoresis (DEP) have been applied to control the LC droplets.•The LC droplets experience negative DEP forces in the range of applied frequencies, 20 – 100 kHz.•A velocity of 180 μm/s can be achieved for a 30-μm-diameter LC droplet by applying 6.5 V at 20 kHz.•Patterning LC droplets are demonstrated.